A family register copy is required for registering a marriage. You can obtain it at a convenience store using your My Number card, but there are pitfalls to be aware of, so prior confirmation is necessary!

2022.09.16 published

[Preparation for Registration] You Can Obtain a Family Register at a Convenience Store*

When submitting a marriage registration, a copy of the family register (koseki tohon) is usually required.

Previously, acquiring a family register could only be done by going to the city office, requesting it by mail, or having an代理人 receive it. However,

since the advent of My Number cards, it has become possible to obtain one at a nearby convenience store. (This may not be the case in some municipalities.)

You can receive an automatic issuance of the family register at any convenience store, whether it's Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson, or anywhere else.

The document is printed on standard A4-sized ordinary paper, but it includes special anti-counterfeiting and tampering technologies, making it officially valid.

It's convenient that you can handle legal marriage procedures with a family register printed out at a convenience store!

Personally, the city office at my registered domicile is quite far away, even by shinkansen, and I find postal requests cumbersome in this day and age... When I first obtained a copy from a convenience store, it was so easy.

How to Obtain a Family Register at a Convenience Store

Here’s how to use the multi-copy machine at the convenience store to obtain a family register (operating the screen).

①

First, tap on “Administrative Services.”

②

Tap on “Certificate Issuance.”

③

Tap on “Certificate Issuance Service (Convenience Store Issuance).”

④

Insert your My Number card.

⑤

If your current address is different from your registered domicile address, tap on:

“For Those Whose Current Municipality and Registered Domicile Are Different.”

⑥

Tap through to the region where your registered domicile is located, following the screen prompts.

(Only municipalities that offer convenience store issuance services will be displayed.)

➡ List of Municipalities Nationwide Offering Convenience Store Issuance

⑦

Tap on “Family Register Certificate.”

⑧

Tap on “Complete Family Register Certificate.”

This is equivalent to the family register copy. It is a certificate for everyone listed in the family register, necessary for marriage registration.

(By the way)

The individual matter certificate of the family register is referred to as a koseki shohon. This document is a certificate for only the specified individual in the family register and cannot be used when submitting a marriage registration.

⑨

Enter your PIN to finalize the issuance details.

⑩

Insert cash to start printing.

It costs 450 yen per copy!

[Pitfall] Have You Registered for Use?

This is a lesson I learned...

To use the family register issuance at the convenience store using your My Number card, you need to complete a prior [Registration for Use].***

(This registration connects your information with the municipality of your registered domicile, allowing for convenience store issuance of certificates.)

If you don’t complete this in advance, even if you go through the acquisition procedure explained above, you will receive a screen message stating, “This card cannot be used. Please contact your municipality,” and you’ll be back to square one.

Not knowing this, I found myself standing in front of the copier...!

Fortunately, I had plenty of time until I needed the family register, so it was fine, but I thought I would have panicked if it was urgently needed the next day...

Therefore, those who wish to use the convenience store issuance service should make sure to apply for the registration for use first!

You can do this from the initial screen of the convenience store’s multi-copy machine,

or you can apply online.

➡ Apply for Registration for Family Register Certificate Issuance here＊

This registration may take up to five days from application to completion, depending on the municipality.

However, it varies by municipality, and in my case, it was registered about half a day after the application. (I applied at noon and was able to obtain it that night! It may get busy around Good Couple Day or Christmas...)

Convenience Store Issuance Service is Convenient, But Don’t Forget the Preparations*

Not only can you obtain essential documents for marriage such as the family register, but also resident certificates, copies of the family register, and seal registration certificates through this convenient convenience store certificate issuance service.

Whether the city hall is far away, postal requests are bothersome, the city hall is crowded, or there isn’t enough time to go in person, you can easily print at a convenience store. I felt I benefited from creating my My Number card for the first time with this!

However, if you haven’t registered for use, there’s a pitfall where you can’t use it immediately...

Don’t forget to prepare in advance and utilize administrative services conveniently!

➡️ Download the Marriage Registration Form from Marry here

➡️ Download a Do-It-Yourself Marriage Registration Form here

@ykn__wedding